“几何之理”与“几何之用”:利玛窦“数学观”的历史探源

Principle and Practice of Mathematics:A Historical Survey of the Origin of Matteo Ricci's Concept of Mathematics

明末由利玛窦所主导的西方数学的引入,开启了中西两种异质数学思想碰撞与交融的历史。本文将利玛窦所著《译几何原本引》与克拉维乌斯1574年版《原本》的《导言》内容进行比对,发现两篇文本内容相关,利玛窦的数学观可以溯源到乃师克拉维乌斯。利玛窦引用并拓展了克拉维乌斯论述"几何之用"的部分,在"几何之理"方面却遮蔽了克拉维乌斯所持有的柏拉图哲学色彩的先验观点,转而采纳中国传统的"格物穷理"学说。利玛窦"数学观"的继承与变异与其所秉持的"易佛补儒"传教策略有关。

In the late Ming Dynasty, the introduction of western mathematics directed by Matteo Ricci initiated the history of collision and integration of two kinds of heterogeneous mathematical thoughts. This paper compared Matteo Ricci＇s Introduction to translated Elements with Clavius＇ Prolegomenon of Elements written in 1574 and found similarity between them. Matteo Ricci＇s concept of mathematics can be traced backto his master Clavius. He alluded and magnified the part of ＂utility of mathematics＂ narrated by Clavius, but rejected Platonic transcendental view in the part of ＂theory of mathematics＂ held by Clavius, accepting, instead, thetraditional Chinese view ＂investigation of things to exhaust the theory＂. The inheritance and variation of Mattew Ricci＇s concept of mathematics were related to his concept of western studies： ＂change of Buddism for Confucianism＂.